Cutting machine



v v h 2 SH'EETSSHEET I.

Patented Oct. 17

M. H. BALLARD. cunmc MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, l9|7. 431,920.

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CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24,1911.

1,431,920, I Patented Oct. 17; 1922. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I Patented Get. 17, 1922.

warren STAKES innate earner ser es.

MILTON H. BALLARD, OI LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'IO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATEBJSON, NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUTTING ll/IAGI-IINE.

Application filed November 24, 1917. Serial No. 203,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MIL'roN H. BALLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Iniprovements in Cutting Machines,- of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,like reference characters on the draw ings indicating like parts in. the several figures.

This invention relates to cutting machines, and particularly to machines for cutting blanks from sheet material by means of a die, I

It is an object of the invention to improve cutting machines of the type in which two pressure members are arranged to swing over a cutting bedfrom opposite sides thereof. In furtherance of this object, the pressure members are arranged to extend substantially beyond the center of the cutting bed, and means are provided in an accessible location at the front of the machine for enabling the operative to contrpl each pressure ed to swing over the relatively considerable area of the cutting .bed. This beam is carried by an approximately C-shap'ed frame which provides bearings for the post to which the beam is directly connected. It occasionally happens, in dieing out thicker or heavier work than usual with the die near the extremity of the beam,that the beam cannot move down its full distance to permit the operating shaft to complete its revolution, the result heing that the upper arm of the C-shaped frame is bent away from the lower arm, and the post, the pressure memher and the operating shafts'are all held fixedly with the low part of the cam on the main shaft approaching dead center and the end of the pressure member clamped tightly on the die on the cutting bed. \Vhen this accident happens, it is frequently necessary partially to dismantle the machine in order to overcome the fixed relationship of the parts.

It is an object of this invention to do with the necessity of dismantling the machine under such circumstances and to provide such a connection between the pressure member and its operating mechanism as will make it possible to release quickly and easily the structures from their fixed relationship.

' 1n one aspect, the invention may be said to comprise, in a machine having a cutting bed, a pressure member arranged to swing over the bed, and operating mechanism therefor, the provision of means entering into or comprising the connection between the pressure member and its operating mechanism by which these parts may be readily released in case of an accidental binding and clamping together of the parts due to some unusual working condition.

definite predetermined relation when the press is in operation, wherein means is provided, full operable at all times, even when the machine is stalled, for altering the described relationship to free the parts of the stalled press without loss of adjustment.

Other features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, and will be pointed out in the claims.

- In the drawings,

F g. l is a rear view of the machine;

Fig. .2 is a plan view with some of the parts brokenaway in order to show one of the presser members in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a front view of one side portion of the machine partly in section, and

In the illustrative machine, frame memresults.

each other are shown at opposite sides of the cutting bed 6, the latter being sustained preferably by a heavy supporting member 7 bolted to the frame members 5. An integral plate 8 of the support 7 has projecting end portions 9 sustained in part by members 10, the latter being extensible, locking means 11 being provided to retain the said members .in extended position. The arrangement described presents a support having a cutting bed which, in length and in breadth, provides a surface of sufficient ex tent to accommodate a skin in extended po' sition or sheet material of more than the ordinary width.

Each frame member a is provided with bearings 12 for a post 13 having secured thereto a pressure member 1 1, the post belng rotatable in its bearings so that each pres.- sure member mayswmg fromand into position over the cutting bed. Preferably, each pressure member extends from its supporting post a distance substantially beyond the center of the cutting bed, it being obvious,

however, that a construction in which one only of the pressure members extends beyond the center of the cutting bed could readily be used to obtain practically the same For this reason only one pressure member can be employed at any given time, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to ensure that the pressure member which is in its normal upper posi tion cannot swing over the pressure member which happens to be in its depressed dieactuating position, each pressure member is provided with a flange 1 1 Each post 18 is connected at itsupper end to a shaft 15, the latter being connected at its lower end by a link 16 with a horizontal shaft 17 driven from the loose pulley 18 upon roper actuation of the clutch housed in t e flange 19 of the pulley. Vhen the operative has placed the die 20 in proper position upon the work on the cutting bed, he depresses the handle 21 of lever 22-, thusthrowing in the clutch which is of the one-revolution non-repeating type, and thereby causes the pressure member "to descend upon the die, thus cuttingthe desired :blanlr from the sheet material, the pressure member 14 rising to initial position at the end of the operation. During the operation of forcing thedie into the work strains are developed in the post and frame, especially in the latter, tending to distort the same. In order to prevent this threatened distortion the upper ends of the frame 5 are connected to each other by a tie-rod 23 which rod may be'conveniently used to support controlling means for the ends of the levers 22, said controlling means taking the form of slotted *gui-de bars 24, A further function of these bars is to limit the downward movement of the handle end of the levers in order to prevent thelevers being so far depressed as to break the same or the parts to which they are connected. For these reasons the bars 24 maybe re garded as stops.

The connection between the shaft 15 and the post 13 preferably consists of a sleeve 25 secured to the upper end of said shaft between a collar 26 and a retaining member 27, the sleeve being externally threaded to cooperate with the internally threaded :portion of the upper end of the post13. The sleeve 25 may be rotated by means of a hand wheel 28 keyed at 29 to the upperend of the sleeve, the wheel resting upon the drum 80 which is in turn keyed'at 81 to the upper end of the post. It is obvious that upon turning the hand wheel the post will be adjusted up oradown as desired with relation to the shaft. Inasmuch as the post carries the pressure member fixedly secured thereto, the said member will be adjusted-with re,- spect to the cutting table over which it is supported. After the hand wheel has been turned to adjust the post,it may be locked in position to prevent accidental displacement thereof by suitably tighteninga bolt located in the passageway indicated at Conveniently, the retaining member 27 is locked in proper position on the upper end of the shaft by means of a threaded bolt 33 passing, across a slotted portion of the member, said member being internally threaded to engagea correspondingly threaded portion on the upper end of the shaft 15.

Carried by the retaining members is a block ea pinned thereto as shown. at 35 and arranged to carry an'adjustable stop 86 in contact with the upper end of the shaft 15,

it being obvious that the block may be of the sleeve and the hub of the hand wheel,

which ends are flush with each other. The bolt 33 15 then tightened to clamp the re taming member securely in position after "which the adjustable stop 36 is screwed down into contact with the end ofthe shaft and "locked in position by means of lock nut 37.

The function of the adjustable stop is thus seen to be that of determining the proper location of the retaining member 27 inasmuch as in all subsequent adjustments the retaining member 27 will invariably'de scend to the same location with the end of stop 36 in contact with the end of the shaft. Hence the retaining member may be moved to release the shaftwithout lossof adjust- 11181113 with respect to the shaft. When in operative position, the member is not in close binding contact with the upper end of the sleeve in order to avoid friction so that the sleeve may be readily turned by the hand wheel. In the clicking machine as heretofore constructed, it occasionally happens, when a piece of work heavier or thicker than usual. is being operated upon, with the die at the extremity of the pressure member, that the pressure member cannot move its normal distance downwardly with the result that the machine is rendered inoperative. In this stalled condition the frame member is sprung away from thecutting bed, the rotation of the main shaft having stopped in such a position that the lowest part of the cam on the said shaft is ap preaching dead center, and the outer end of the pressure member is clamped upon the die on the cutting bed. Under these circumstances it is practically impossible to release the structures which have thus been fixed in this pinched or clamped position without dismantling, partially at least, the machine. T his is true in a clicking machine like that disclosed in Bates, 921,503, in which the connection between the upright shaft for operating the pressure member and the main shaft is located at the lower end of the upright shaft. In the illustrated machine, the connection between the post which carries the pressure member and the shaft for operating said post is located at the upper end of the post in a position which is readily accessible for adjustment and for manipulation under the unusual circumstances de scribed. In releasing a pressure member which has been accidentally clamped fixedly upon the cutting bed as described, it is necessary merely to loosen. the bolt 33 in the retaining member 27. The latter may then be easily and quickly turned, with the result that the shaft 15 is released from the post 13. Shaft 17 may now be turned and the pressure member lifted to its normal position of rest. No adjustment of the post and shaft connections is necessary and the machine is readily placed in condition for operation. In this connection it is pointed out that the upper end of the shaft 15 has a screw threaded portion 15 engaged by the retain ing member, in which portion the screw threads are of steep pitch so that wh n the bolt 33 is loosened the retaining member rises quickly and easily on heiifg rotated to free the hand wheel.

In order to provide for easy manipulation of the pressure members in swinging the same into and from position over the cutting bed, handles 38 are provided on the side of each pressure member nearer the operative. In conjunction with this arrangement, there is shown a construction of the actuating means for the pressure members in which the saidactuating means are suspended in an accessible position over the cutting" bed near the front portion thereof. Thus the operative may readily position each pressure member in turn over the die in various positions upon. the cutting bed and then, at the proper time, may depress the actuating means to cause the operation of the pressure member.

The manner of using this machine will be .ciently evident from the preceding: description and from the fact that, in general, well-known features of operation are in volved. It will be understood that with the material placed upon the cutting bed, the operative will make use of one pressure memher or the other depending upon what particular portion of the material receives the die. While one pressure member is in use, the other will be swung aside, preferably to the res, so as to admit the'light and afford an uninterrupted view of the work.

Having described my invention. what I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of th United States is:-

l. Ina machine of the class described, a cutting bed for supporting the work, a post having a die-operatingarm mounted thereon in spaced relation to the bed, an upright shaft for operating the post, means between the upper ends of the shaft and the post, for adjusting the post-supported arm relatively to the bed, and means, constructed and arn red to be readily removable under all conditions, for retaining the adj Listing means on the shaft. 1

2. In a machine of the class describecha cutting bed for supporting the work, a post having a die-operating arm mounted thereon in spaced relation to the bed, an upright shaft for operating the post, a member secured on the shaft and arranged to engage the upper end of the post to adjust the post supported arm relatively to the bed, and a member, constructed and arranged to be readily rotatable under all conditions, for retaining said first-mentioned member on the shaft.

8. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed for suj iporting the work, a post having a die-operating arm mounted thereon in spaced relation to the bed, an upright shaft for operating the post, a member located on the shaft and arranged adjustably to engage the upper end of the post, means, constructed and arranged to be readily movable under all conditions, for retaining said member on the post, and manually operable means for movin said member to adjust the post and the arm relatively to the bed.

at. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, a post having; a die operating arm. mounted thereon in spaced relation to the bed, a shaft arranged to extend through the post and to operate'the same, an externally threaded sleeve located on the shaft, said post having an internally threaded portion at its upper end arranged to co-operate with the sleeve, means for turning said sleeve to adjust the post-supported arm relatively to the bed, and means for retaining the sleeve on the post, comprising a threaded portion of the post and a rotatable member to engage said portion, both said portion and member having threads of steep pitch so that said member is readily rotatable underall conditions.

5. In a machine of the class described, a shaft, a sleeve on the shaft, and means for retaining the sleeve on the shaft, said means comprising a member arranged to engage the upper end of the sleeve, a stop for de termining the limit of movement in one direction of the member, and readily operable means for holding the stop in desired position, the arrangement being such that, when the operative position of the member has been once determined, the said member may subsequently be brought invariably to its proper operative position.

6. Ina machine of the class described, a shaft, a sleeve on the shaft, a presser member carried by the sleeve, means for operating the shaft, and means for retaining the sleeve on the shaft, said means comprising a member arranged to engage the upper ends of the sleeve and the shaf", said end of the shaft and the member being provided with threads having a steep pitch so that said member is readily rotatable under all conditions, and said member having an adjustable stop arranged to engage the upper end i of the shaft for determining the operative position of thememben-the arrangement being such that, when the step has been properly adjusted, the member may subsequently be brought invariably to its proper operative position.

7. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at opposite sides of said bed carrying each a pressure member arranged to extend substantially beyond the center of the cutting bed, each frame carrying also the operating mechanism for its respective pressure member, the arrange- ,ment being such that in the operation of either pressure member great stresses are developed tending to bend one of the frames away from the other, a tie-rod connecting the frames to prevent any such bending of either frame, a manually operated lever for actuating each pressure member operating mechanism, and guiding means carried by the tie-rod for guiding and limiting the movement of the manually operated actuating means.

8. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, one of said pressure members being arranged to extend substantially beyond the center of the bed, and the other presser member extending to the center of the bed, a manually operated'means for actuating each pressure member operating mechanism, and means at the front of the machine for guiding and limiting the movement of the manually operated means of both mechanisms.

9. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at opposite sides of the bed carryingeach a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, one of said pressure members being arranged to extend substantially beyond the center of the bed, a tie-rod connecting the frames, a manually operated means for actuatingeach pressure member operating mechanism, and means for guiding and limiting the movement of the manually operated means of both mechanisms.

10. in a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, one of said pressure members being arranged to extend substantially beyond the center of the bed, a tie-rod connecting the frames, a

manually operated lever for actuating each pressui member operating mechanism, and guiding means mounted on the tie-rod for guiding and limiting the movement of the levers.

11. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at'opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefore, a manually opprated leved for actuating each pressure member operating mechanism, and means rigidlysupported at the front of the machine for limiting the movement of the levers, the levers having handles arranged to project laterally to one side of the guiding means and in accessible position for actuation by the operative.

12. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, a tie-rod connecting the frames, a manually operated lever for actuating each pressure member operating mechanism, and guiding means mounted on the tie-rod for limiting the movement of the levers, the levers having handles arranged to project laterally to one side of theivertical plane defined by the tierod and the guiding means.

13. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, means suspended above the front of the machine in accessible position forthe actuation of each pressure member, and a single means for controlling the actuating means of both pressure members.

14k. In a. machine of the class described, a

cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a, pressure member arranged toextend substantially beyond the center of the cutting bed, each frame member carrying also the operating mecha nism for its respective pressure member, a handle provided on the side of each pressure member Within easy reach of the operative, and means suspended above the front of the machine in accessible position for the actuation of each pressure member.

15. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, one of said pressure members being arranged to extend substantially beyondthe central point of the bed and of the space between the frame members, a handle provided on the front side of each pressure member within easy reach of the operative, and

levers having handles arranged to project abovethe front of the machine in accessible position for the actuation of each pressure member.

16. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, one of said pressure members being arranged to extend substantially beyond the center of the bed, means located at the front of the machine in an accessible position for enabling the operative to control each pressure member, and a single rigidly supported means for controlling said first-mentioned means.

lflln a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frames at opposite sides of the cutting bed each carrying a post and the operating mechanism therefor, presser members carried by the posts, the construction and arrangement being such that the sum of the lengths of the presser members exceeds the distance between the centers of the posts, and means in an accessible position at the front of the machine for enabling the operator to control each presser member.

18. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism there for, lever members suspended above the front of the machine and held against lateral movement over the cutting bed and in accessible position for the actuation of each pressure member, and a single member provided With stops for limiting the actuating movements of both lever members.

19. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure member and the operating mechanism therefor, lever members extending toward and into close proximity to each other and suspower penled above the front of the machine in position for the actuation of each pressure member, and a stationary member having stops for limiting the movements of both lever members.

In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, frame members at opposite sides of the bed carrying each a pressure meml er and the o; -ating mechanism there for, levers suspended above the front of the "nachine in accessible position for the actuation of each pressure member, and con trolling means for the levers comprising a rod and guide members rigidly secured thereto for slidably receiving said levers.

21. In a machine of the class described, an upper and lower presser member, a post having one of the p'resser members mounted thereon in spaced relation to the other press r member, a screw-threaded member for usting the post as to vary the space between the presser members, and retaining means readily operable for releasing the post, from pressure exerted through the screw-threaded member, and movable to exact oper the position without the uecessity of adjusstment to hold the presser memhers in predetermined relation to each other.

22. ln :1 machine of the class described, an upper and a lower presser member, a post having one of the presser members mounted thereon in spaced relation to the.

other presser member, a screw threaded member for adjusting the post so as to var the )ace between the presser members, means for reciprocating the post so to cause the presser members to move toward and from each other in pressure applying operations, and means for connecting the post to said power means comprising a n amber readily accessible to the operator and ope instantl releasing the post from the power means, and returnable to exact operative position to hold the post in predetermined relation to the power means.

ln a machine of the class described, an n per anda lower presser member, a post having one of the presser members mounted thereon in spaced relation to the other presser member, POWGI means for reciprocating the post comprising a shaft extending through. the post, a screw threaded member adjustably connecting the upper ends of the shaft and post, and a retaining member for iolding the shaft in fixed relation to the screw-threaded member and movable Without loss of adjustment instantly to release the shaft from said screw-threaded member, and movable to exact operative position for holding the shaft in predetermined relation to the screW-tln'eaded member.

24. In machine of the class described, an upper and a lower presser member, a post having one of the presser members able without loss of adjustment for rel ation to the screw-threaded member and readily movable to release the shaft from 10 the screw-threaded member, and a stop member for determining the adjustment of the retaining member-r In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MILTON H. BALLARD. 

